We all understand that the presence of well-educated people in a country directly affects its economic potential. If there are many well-educated people, then the country will have an economic breakthrough, and if there are few, the country will face an economic recession. But many forget that the living conditions of students directly affect the quality of education. Therefore, a logical chain can be drawn: good living conditions for students lead to good education, which in turn leads to the economic growth of the country.

In this article, I would like to compare the conditions for the life of students in the USSR and in modern Russia. Scholarships and prices for goods and services can tell us a lot.

Under the Union, even trochniks received scholarships. In modern Russia, three students do not receive scholarships. Those. approximately 70% of all students in our country do not receive any money to survive. Future specialists have to either sit on the neck of their parents, or go to work.

But let's think about how then students can get a good education if they work? No way. They spend all their free time from studying at work, they come home tired, and there is no time left for reading educational literature. As a result, almost all of these 70% of students receive diplomas, but not knowledge.

But there is another 30% who receive scholarships, you say. And it is they who will be able to give impetus to the economic growth of the country. But, let's now see what kind of scholarships we have. Under the Union, scholarships were on average from 35 to 50 rubles. For excellent students, even higher. In today's Russia, the average scholarship is 2000 rubles.

Now let's compare prices. You can take many indicators, but let's take just a few. Bread cost 12 kopecks, now 20 rubles. Under the Union, a scholarship could buy an average of 330 loaves of bread, but now only 100. A cup of coffee in a cafe cost 20 kopecks, now it costs 20 rubles. Those. that's 200 cups of coffee under the Union and 100 cups of coffee now.

But do not forget that the rooms in the dormitories were free, and now you have to pay an average of 500 rubles a month. Now there is no longer 2000, but 1500 rubles for life. This means that you can buy even less products. You can't live on 2,000 rubles now, so even students who receive a scholarship also go to work, which in turn reduces the quality of their knowledge.

Some might say that the scholarships were high, but the stalls were empty. Have you heard about the students who starved to death? I did not hear.

What can we say about the requirements at universities under the USSR and the current requirements. Now a student who answers that the Tatar-Mongol invasion took place in the 20th century gets a C on the exam. Previously, for this, a person would have flown out of the university with a bang. Although such a person could not even do it. And what do we end up with? In Soviet times, students lived like in paradise and received a quality education. Now the life of students is like hell. At the same time, it is quite difficult to get good knowledge while working. Draw conclusions...

President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev agreed that the scholarship that most students receive today is not great. However, according to him, it was practically always:“There are no and will not be goals for the scholarship to cover all possible elementary costs. It's impossible".

“If anyone ever tells you that under the Soviet regime, a scholarship allowed you to live with dignity, tell him that this is nonsense,” Medvedev said, adding that the maximum that could be afforded on a scholarship of 50 rubles in 1980 was e years - go with a girl to a cafe. As it turned out, today’s students can afford about the same with their scholarships.”

The experts answered the correspondent's question whether it was possible to satisfy basic needs with Soviet scholarships.

political consultant Anatoly Wasserman:

Soviet stipends are well described in figures in the text, which is based on a comparison of the prices of the Soviet public catering system and President Medvedev's recent words about Soviet stipends.

As a person who received a Soviet scholarship, I generally confirm these figures. But I must say: the usual scholarship of 35-45 rubles in the early 1970s was still not enough for regular visits to cafes: it was a tangible luxury, and daily meals with this money could only be in student canteens and / or with self-purchase and cooking.

Political scientist, First Vice President of the Center for Modeling Strategic Development Grigory Trofimchuk:

The topic of student scholarships today is no less explosive than the topic of interethnic relations. Russian students are very closely following what is happening in this area, which is why they first brought up this issue at a meeting with Dmitry Medvedev.

The current social state of a student is fundamentally different from the social format of the Soviet era. Previously, for the student to study, the student himself was paid - now the student himself pays for the study. At the same time, no one is interested in where he will find (obtain, steal) money in order to regularly contribute huge amounts for semesters, not to mention the fact that he must eat something and get to the place of study every day. The place of residence of out-of-town students, for even more terrible money, is generally a separate political issue.

The student is expected to work. But there can be one thing here: either study normally, or work calmly, because no one will give even half of the money that must be given to the institute every day for fitful, irregular work. If both are at the same time, then after the fifth course you get a tired, sick person. Normal nutrition for a student is also a separate issue. Walk around Moscow: students dine exclusively at McDonalds. Where is the state that is obliged to organize hot and inexpensive meals right at the place of employment? After five years of such an intensive regimen of "work and rest", the student gets gastritis, which gradually turns into an ulcer - pay again, now for the hospital.

A student who “arrives at the place of study in his own car” is a vile myth that has nothing to do with the bulk of student youth.

Naturally, a student could not live on a Soviet scholarship, Dmitry Anatolyevich is right here. But the question then did not arise, because people did not think at all what they would eat, where they would live tomorrow. It was like a self-evident given, the grace of nature.

If the President of Russia said that against the backdrop of frivolous Bolshevik student scholarships, the new Russia expects to give this type of assistance a more serious format, given the financial burden on fragile bodies and souls, then he would “bought” the love of students from scratch. There is no money in the budget - you still need to maneuver somehow. But that did not happen. Therefore, in countless student forums, unfortunately, dislike for the native authorities will continue to grow. And the dislike of students is much hotter and more dangerous than similar sentiments on the part of Russian pensioners.

Culturologist, candidate of philosophical sciences (Germany) Larisa Belzer-Lisyutkina:

The student scholarship at Moscow State University was 35 rubles a month, 2.50 were deducted from it for a hostel, 3 - a ticket. There was 1 ruble left for the day. A ticket for a concert at the conservatory cost 3 rubles, one kg of meat - 2.20, good boots - 50/70 rubles.

I had to immediately, starting from the 1st course, earn extra money as an interpreter. This part-time job gave me the opportunity to graduate from the university, then graduate school, and have a very decent standard of living, receiving a starting candidate salary of 175 rubles at my main place of work.

At the same time, for one article in a magazine or newspaper, one could receive a fee from 150 to 300 rubles, and an average of 200-300 rubles was paid for a translation or review of one printed sheet from English or German. My classmates, who did not know the necessary amount of languages ​​in order to earn extra money by translating, went to the Sabbath in the summer: they built cowsheds or houses in remote areas, earned large sums, which they then spent on living. So President Medvedev did not lie, it was impossible to live on 35 rubles of a scholarship, as well as on a starting salary of 175 rubles.

Director of the Center for Studies of the South Ukrainian Borderlands Vladimir Korobov:

I was a student in 1971-1976. The scholarship was 35 rubles. On average, 1 ruble was spent on food per day. 50 kop. That is, the scholarship was exactly enough for a month for food in the canteen or products from the store - sausage and bread. Of course, the scholarship was not enough to live in a big city. Parents helped. The parents of most fellow students helped their student children with money. The amounts, however, were different. They spoiled me: they sent me 70 rubles a month. So I lived on a little more than 100 rubles, which is about the salary of a rural teacher, which I received after graduating from the university. But in my senior years, this seemed not enough, and I started working in the academic theater, at first as a fire and watch guard, I think I received 90 rubles a month. Then creative work was added - an actor of mass scenes. They paid 1 ruble for going on stage. "Run" another 50-70 rubles. Together it worked out really well. I started renting an apartment, buying books, new clothes. I agree with Medvedev, the student should work. It is optimal when students work in scientific projects in their specialty. But even a part-time job outside the specialty strengthens the student's budget, shapes his personality, and is a “school of life”.

Scientific Director of the Center for the Study of Modernity (France) Pavel Krupkin:

When I studied at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, my scholarship (increased - 73.5 rubles, or regular - 55 rubles + 10 rubles from mom and dad) was enough to cover the basic needs of a student hostel. Clothes were still mostly covered by mom-dad or leftist earnings. However, the president's main message is different. His message is that "above" a decision has been made to radically change the verbal design of social routines in yet another area of ​​our social reality. The state ceases to be hypocritical in terms of relieving itself of responsibility for financing the household expenses of students, transferring it to “private hands”. Those. The “domestic part” of the education of young men and women is becoming their “headache” already and officially - in reality, this has long been the case, since it has long been impossible to call current scholarships funding everyday life. And this elimination of hypocrisy from yet another sphere of society is good. But it would be much better if it were supplemented by the creation of private scholarship funds, as well as programs for lending to students in universities.

Translator and IT entrepreneur (Boston, USA) Fyodor Tolstoy:

In Soviet times, during my student years, I lived with my parents, so I cannot personally testify about life on one scholarship.

However, I know those who lived in a hostel on a scholarship: in principle, it was possible, but “starving”. Most of them solved this problem through summer earnings in the "construction teams" - they paid much more than the average salary there, so that they earned enough later to support the scholarship during the year.

In principle, it seems to me that the system adopted in the USA is correct: students receive free assistance from both the state and universities, but with the exception of the best, this assistance does not cover the cost of living - but they can get a loan for the cost of living during their studies, guaranteed by the state, which is gradually given away when they go to work.

Journalist and blogger (Lviv) Alexander Khokhulin:

I studied by correspondence, I did not receive scholarships. Medvedev is right. Although for Ukraine a more important issue is the consistent reform of the education system in order to make learning meaningless "to improve personality traits." The state should spend money on training specialists for the country, not sellers on trays with diplomas. It is this, and not the increase in scholarships, that should be the main task of our relevant minister, Mr. Dmitry Tabachnik.

Programmer and publicist Alexey Kravetsky:

In the eighties, when no one even suspected that the wonderful pavilions of the All-Russian Exhibition Center were built to trade in headphones, seeds and other things, my parents and I loved going there with passion.

The territory of the Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy, if someone has not been there, is huge. This area could accommodate a small European city. The pavilions are located not only on the central alley, but also on its many branches. Many will ask, why was it necessary to go there if headphones were not sold there anyway? And I will answer: it was great! Firstly, the mind-blowing fountains, looking at which even the inhabitants of Rome - where the fountains are also very rich - will cry with envy. Secondly, excellent architecture and landscape design in general. I was sure then that this is how the cities of the future should look like. However, I am now sure of it. When I go there, I perfectly understand Jesus, who drove the merchants out of the temple. I want, just like him, to grab a stick and beat all the merchants with it, and then throw them out of the pavilions and return what was there.

And there were, thirdly, expositions. VDNKh in the original is a huge museum. A gigantic museum that instilled in the children's hearts such confidence in the inevitability of a bright future that those born after perestroika could not even come close to experiencing anything like this. In the museum pavilions there were many exhibits with examples of almost everything that was done in our country. Well, not according to the nomenclature, of course, but according to, so to speak, the main directions. But at the same time it was possible to see everything live. From animal husbandry (yes, there were real sheep and pigs) to heavy metallurgy. From national costumes to space rockets and satellites. Plus a huge number of models. Models of everything. Cities, nuclear power plants in the context, cars, dams. You could go to this museum every day, no joke. And the day was not enough to get around everything. What am I for? Besides, it was very good! And I want it all back! I hate non-humans who broke the city of the future!

Let me tell you about the restaurants. There were a huge number of restaurants at VDNKh. Not to mention canteens and cafes. Running around the pavilions, of course, I wanted to eat. And sometimes they went to eat in the dining room, and sometimes in the restaurant. So, in a restaurant at VDNKh, a family of three could literally nibble on 10 rubles. Three-course dinner, fruit compote (I was not interested in beer then). There were times when I couldn't even eat.

Therefore, in which cafes for 50 rubles for two our nano-janitor went then, I absolutely do not understand. I would also say that 50 rubles is for two ice creams.

Coordinator of the international expert group IA REXSergey Sibiryakov:

I listened to Medvedev, and the impression was created that we lived with him in different countries. It is not surprising - his country is only 20 years old ...

Eating in a student canteen for one and a half rubles a day in the late 70s - early 80s was quite realistic, and some fit into the ruble. The hostel cost less than two rubles a month.

The scholarship was enough to cover basic household expenses. But of course, the stormy young student life required a lot of expenses. I wanted to dress fashionably, buy new literature, attend theaters and concerts. But these needs already required additional funds, and we had to earn extra money.

We worked part-time with friends on weekends unloading wagons. The four of us will unload a car of 60 tons (salt, flour ...) and get 15 rubles each. Yes, and the muscles of steel after such work. And work in construction teams made it possible to earn from 600 to 1200 rubles over the summer and dress quite decently in the most fashionable things.

The girls weren't lazy either. They worked as night nannies in kindergartens, as postmen and technicians. From the 3rd year students were taken to the departments and research institutes of Akademgorodok for part-time work as laboratory assistants - 40-50 rubles a month. So even in the little things of everyday student life under the USSR, President Medvedev, who never lived in a hostel and never went to construction teams, is trying to find bad sides to justify the need to throw off social concerns about students from the shoulders of the anti-people state.

Student life began with a trip to the collective farms for harvesting. I remember that we made good money there at that time - 90 rubles were brought in a month on the 1st course. Somehow it happened after agricultural work, where I was a foreman and successfully negotiated tariffs for agricultural work with the authorities, my classmates elected me from the course to the faculty bureau and the scholarship commission, where I defended their interests until the 5th year. Therefore, I remember well all the social and trade union benefits for students. Student-athletes playing for the university in competitions ate free of charge in the canteen on coupons and went at the expense of the university for training camps in the summer and winter holidays.

Poor students were especially taken care of. Poor students included those who had an income of no more than 45 rubles per family member, children from single-parent families, and children with disabilities. They were given free vouchers to sanatoriums and dispensaries, they were given material assistance twice a year in the amount of a scholarship. So social support made it possible for children from all strata of Soviet society to receive higher education, and the main factor was the desire to learn.

Recall that at a meeting with students of Russian regional universities, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev shared his own experience of working as a janitor in his student years. “Students who want to live with dignity should work, and not rely only on scholarships. I believe that the goal of the state cannot be the payment of scholarships, on which a student can more or less live comfortably,” the president said. - The state does not have such opportunities, and, To be honest, there are no such scholarships in any country in the world.”. According to Medvedev, a scholarship is not a form of material support, but assistance for solving some particular problems.

And why are anti-Soviet people such idiots?

There are again several posts in the Top about the horrors of the USSR. I thought that this year there would be fewer of them - the 100th anniversary of the revolution has already passed. But I was wrong. Maybe the point is now in the elections, in the nomination of Grudinin?

Here is a snippet from one post:
“There is much more to remember, but I will only remind those who have forgotten or do not know the following: the biggest topic of jokes in the USSR was the topic of a starving student (now completely forgotten). And since I lived in the USSR, and besides, I was a student then and lived in a hostel, this topic is still close to me, despite the fact that I have been full for a long time.

Student scholarship in the USSR was 35-50 rubles, depending on the university. By the end of the USSR, there were scholarships of 62 rubles, 75 rubles (increased), for example, at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. The scholarship was paid depending on academic success: usually they were not given if there were “triples”. The excellent students received an increased scholarship, I think, of 50 rubles. There was also a Lenin scholarship - 120 rubles, paid monthly, established for a period of 1 year. Appointed to students from the 2nd year, for excellent studies and active social activities.

Now, what could be bought with this money.

Here's what people remember:

“A metro ticket across Moscow cost 1.5 rubles for a “diary” student.
Lunch in the dining room - 35-40 kopecks.
Cheburek with meat (with meat and broth inside, and not with potatoes) - 16 kopecks.
Rent a room in a communal apartment - from 20 to 30 rubles. (I vouch for my words, because I myself rented a furnished room in a 2-room apartment in Chertanov in the late 70s).
A student train ticket to Tallinn cost 6 rubles.
A bottle of beer - 37 kopecks. (You could return the bottle and get 12 kopecks.)
A liter of milk - 32 kopecks.
A bottle of kefir - 30 kopecks. (of which 15 kopecks is a deposit, i.e. dishes)
Fish - from 70 kopecks per kg.
Buns - from 7 to 12 kopecks - and tasty, unlike today.
Cake "Fruit" - 1 rub. 75 kop.
A cup of coffee in a cafe - 15-20 kopecks.
Taxi fare - 10 kopecks landing, 10 kopecks per kilometer.
Decent wine - 2-3 rubles.

“A student scholarship at Moscow State University was 35 rubles a month, 2.50 was deducted from it for a hostel, 3 - a ticket. There was 1 ruble left for the day. A ticket to a concert at the conservatory cost 3 rubles, one kg of meat - 2.20, boots - 50/70 rubles..

Of course, much depends on the year that is remembered. 35 rubles at Moscow State University - these were the humanities faculties. 3 rubles - it was a single preferential travel card. By metro - 1 rub. 50, whether there were buses, trams, trolleybuses, I don't remember.

Could you live on this money? Watching who.

For example, President Medvedev once said: “If someone ever tells you that under the Soviet regime, a scholarship allowed you to live with dignity, tell him that this is nonsense. The maximum that one could afford for a scholarship of 50 rubles in the 1980s was to go to a cafe with a girl.

In the central restaurants such as "Prague", "Aragvi", "Uzbekistan" a hot dish cost 3.50, in the rest - 2.50. To eat together for 50 rubles? Maybe he ordered several bottles of cognac? Medvedev liked to take a walk, you will not say anything.

Most of the students were helped by their parents.

But there were those who lived on their own money. They usually worked as janitors, postmen, nannies, translators, loaders, tutors. Gave extra money and summer work in the construction team, sometimes quite significant.

But it is one thing to add another, for example, 35 rubles to 35 rubles, and another thing to give or earn 75 rubles at once. The scholarship was certainly a good help.

There were still jokes about starving students, but an order of magnitude less than about students with poor grades.

Now let's look at the scholarships that the student receives today.

In 2017, an academic scholarship: for students of technical schools and colleges - 856 rubles, universities - 1571 rubles.
The minimum scholarship for a student at a university is 1340 rubles, at a vocational school - 487 rubles. The maximum scholarship is about 6 thousand rubles.

Now, what can this scholarship be spent on.

The cost of living in a student hostel at the HSE is from 900 rubles per month to 1,500 rubles.

The cost of living in dormitories of Moscow State University depends very much on the form of study and place of residence: state-funded students pay 120 rubles per month (the same 5% of the scholarship) regardless of the hostel, contract students pay from 3360 rubles per month for living in a full-time five-bed room DAS up to 11,700 rubles per month for accommodation in a odnushka GZ (sectors "E" and "G").
In general, there is no single cost, and each university has its own.

I would also add that earlier each university was obliged to provide a hostel for all students, but today there are universities without hostels at all, and in other places there are not enough places for everyone.
Renting a room in Moscow costs about 10,000 rubles.

You know the cost of food in canteens yourself. In Moscow it is difficult to dine for less than 150 rubles.
The cost of a monthly discount ticket without a travel limit on the metro and monorail for students is 365 rubles. / 380 rubles since 2017.

So calculate how much money a student who receives a scholarship of 1,571 rubles will have for food, even if accommodation in a hostel is 120 rubles, as in Moscow State University. After purchasing a reduced ticket, approximately 1000 rubles.
How many days can you eat for 1000 rubles?

And remember that only 50% of students today study for free. The rest pay from 25,000 a year at some university in Bashkiria to 260,000 a year (Higher School of Economics) and 440,000 at MGIMO. But in most universities in Moscow - somewhere in the region of 100 thousand students.

True, there are now more opportunities for students to earn extra money. For example, they work as waiters.

At the same time, there are no new jokes about hungry students. And this is understandable: now poor people cannot teach their children. What jokes can there be about living on 1000 rubles?

And why are anti-Soviet people such idiots?

By the way, I didn’t find many jokes about a hungry student. Here, unless:

A hungry student comes to the hostel, and the smell of freshly fried meat is on the floor. He enters the room, and there 40 students with forks eat meat from one common tray. A fork is silently handed to the newcomer, and he, together with everyone else, eats the meat. I ate my fill, but it’s inconvenient to leave just like that.
Then he says: “Guys, I don’t like our dean,” and he answered: “If you don’t like it, don’t eat it!”
************************
Two hungry students sit in a hostel and drink with the last money. Suddenly one asks:
- Where did that smell of barbecue?
- Fool, take the fly off your cigarette!
************************
Hungry students lie and dream:
- Well, guys, let's get a pig. Meat, lard will be ...
- Yes, what are you? Dirty, stink!
No, she'll get used to it...
************************
A hungry student comes into the cafeteria and says-
- Give me 2 sausages, please.
(saleswoman) - Are you chic?
(with a sigh) -And 8 forks.
************************
- And I know how to cook chicken or meat in a communal apartment or in a hostel!
- How?
- I explain. You are a hungry student. The neighbor is the hostess, she cooks a lot. She puts the chicken/meat on the stove and goes into the room to watch TV. You put a pot of water next to it, and as soon as it is gone, you shift the meat to yourself. You stand nearby. You hear her shuffling along the corridor - you shift it back. Came, checked, left. You - again to yourself, and so several times. As a result, she has meat, and you have broth!!!

The happiest people in the USSR are students. Everyone who lived at that time would certainly agree with this statement. And as proof, we will talk about the life of Soviet girls while studying at the university.

1. How did you do it?

For millions of boys and girls in the USSR, higher education was the main social lift. A diploma from a prestigious university gave a start in life, participation in amateur performances opened the way to the stage, active work in the Komsomol organization was considered almost the only option for those who decided to go into politics, that is, to make a career in the CPSU. But first you need to become a student, and it was not so easy to do this.

Of course, for most universities, it was enough to pass the exams more or less successfully. In some specialties, there was generally a severe shortage and they took almost everyone who did not receive a deuce. A vivid example: "pedins" and "agricultural". For elite institutes and universities, not only a good certificate and excellent entrance exams were assumed - the passing score sometimes reached 4.7 and additional factors were required.

For example, at MGIMO, a good knowledge of a foreign language was not enough, a working background was required, or at least a year of experience in a working specialty, as well as a recommendation from the city party committee. For the law faculty, service in the army or work in the police was needed, for the "medina" - an entry in the labor profile and a characteristic from the head physician were welcome. In addition, there were quotas for small nations, referrals from enterprises, and so on.

All this refers to the second half of the existence of the USSR. Before the war, the vast majority of educated people went through the system of educational programs and workers' schools created by the Soviet government, and they went to the institute not even after exams, but on Komsomol vouchers.

2. How not to act

In many universities it was necessary to pass an interview and it was not always formal. Sometimes even not very good grades on the exam faded into the background if the applicant knew the subject well or could demonstrate her passion for it. But in the same way, she could be overwhelmed. It was often more difficult for girls to get into a prestigious specialty because of gender stereotypes. For example, a young man would be taken to the mekhmat, all other things being equal and even with lower grades.

Another trouble that especially bothered girls from the provinces was the mismatch of programs. Often, at the entrance exams, they were faced with tasks and questions that simply did not pass at school. And if in the 1950s this lag was not yet clearly expressed, then with each decade the gap increased.

Separately, it is necessary to tell about the selection system for creative universities. Thousands of girls from all over the USSR came to the capital to enter the main specialized educational institutions of the country: VGIK, GITIS and so on. The competition reached hundreds of people for a place, and the dropout was really brutal.

First, I had to go through creative tasks, which in itself is difficult. Then an interview on general knowledge about theater or cinema. At the same time, there were no tickets, and members of the examination committee sometimes asked questions about the history of Tajik cinema.

3. Where did you study

Despite the formal equality of opportunity, in the USSR there was always a clear division into male and female institutions. It is no secret that mostly girls studied to become teachers and philologists. Another place where the concentration of the weaker sex was high is narxoses. These were not the most popular universities and it was easy to enter there, with the exception of some specialties.

But in polytechnics there were traditionally few girls. There were educational institutions where women were not accepted at all. For example, sailors and military schools. Of course, there were professions that almost all girls dreamed of. We have already talked about actresses, but journalists and foreigners were no less popular.

4. How they went for potatoes

Having received the coveted student card, on the first of September, the girls came to their universities to plunge into the world of knowledge, but immediately went "for potatoes." A trip to the collective farm "to fight the harvest" is an obligatory stage in obtaining higher education. It was very hard to "pull out". The only exception is sick leave. But it must be said that until the 1980s, this was not something extraordinary for most students.

Such trips were practiced not only for students, but also for schoolchildren, starting from the seventh grade. They were sent to the fields for several weeks in the midst of Indian summer, where future actors and physicists most often harvested vegetables that had survived until September. And although the work was quite hard, everyone had a rough idea of ​​what awaited them in advance, they were ready for this and knew how to cheat at the right time, to be honest.

But in the evenings, you could sit by the fire, listen to the guitar, meet fellow students who had only been seen at the entrance exams before, chat with potential gentlemen, and, in general, have fun. Often, the days spent on the collective farm in his student years were remembered just with pleasure, without negativity.

5. Where did you live

It so happened that many girls preferred to get an education outside their hometown. Residents of the villages went to the nearest large settlement or regional center. Applicants from there aspired to the universities of the republican capitals. The chain ended in Moscow and Leningrad. Despite many domestic inconveniences, the girls tried to be as far away from their home as possible. And most of these Soviet students settled in hostels.

The hostel was the easiest and most affordable option, but far from the only one. Quite often, the girls rented a room with the hostess. As a rule, they did not take a whole room, but only a bed, and three or four had to live. Such a service was relatively inexpensive in the 1970s: 5-20 rubles, depending on the city.

It was more difficult to rent an apartment without a hostess. Almost all real estate in the USSR belonged to the state. Rarely did anyone have a second apartment free for rent. But even this, with some luck, could be arranged, although it already cost from 20 to 100 rubles.

6. What were you addicted to

Of course, they went to universities to get a specialty. But the Soviet authorities not only ensured that the students acquired the necessary knowledge, but also diversified. In all institutes and universities, a lot of attention was paid to the most diverse amateur art activities and sports sections.

I must say that initially almost all sports in the USSR were emphatically amateur. In the biography of many famous athletes of the 1950s or 60s, one can often find lines that they took their first steps in big-time sports in sections at enterprises or universities. Later, athletes and volleyball players began to appear, who were only registered at the institutes, but did not really study. But all the same, girls, if they wished, could enroll in some section and go in for sports for free, which is called “for the soul”. Swimming, gymnastics and mountain climbing were especially popular. The latter, however, was far from being in all universities.

However, sport was not the most fashionable occupation among students. Most of their attention was attracted by amateur performances. Both completely official groups and various VIA and youth theaters worked at institutes and student recreation centers, for which the university served only as a convenient base. Edita Piekha and Maya Kristalinskaya became stars while still students.

KVN stood apart. The Club of the Cheerful and Resourceful was invented on television, but very quickly it turned into a real movement that penetrated almost all the universities of the country. Moreover, in many institutes there were also internal competitions between faculties. Even the closure of the program did not affect his popularity. In the student environment, KVN successfully survived until the restructuring and resumption of broadcasts. The only disappointment: it was difficult for girls to break even into the team of the faculty, the main part of the cheerful and resourceful was male.

7. How did you rest

It may seem that all of the above has already applied to entertainment and recreation. To some extent, this was true, but both sports and amateur art activities took a lot of time and were more like getting a second education without interrupting the first.

The girls who studied at the institutes had enough opportunities to have a good time. And this helped a lot of benefits. It was possible to visit cinemas, theaters and museums with a significant discount, transport tickets were also cheaper for students. But the most popular pastime was dancing.

In large cities, they were constantly organized: in the summer in the open air, in the winter they used any suitable premises, from the Houses of Culture to the stations. Entrance to such events was paid. However, semi-closed student evenings were organized especially for students, tickets for which were distributed through the trade union committee.

The trade union committees were also in charge of summer holidays. There you could get vouchers to student camps for 10-20% of the cost, they also sent them on hikes and tourist trips throughout the USSR. The diversity of the program depended primarily on the wealth of the university itself, as a rule, the most “cool” in this respect were not only prestigious educational institutions, but those assigned to a heavyweight department, for example, the Ministry of the Oil Industry.

8. Where did you earn extra money

The scholarship in the USSR was relatively large. Until 1970 - from 30 rubles, then raised to 40 rubles, excellent students received 56 rubles. But not everyone and not always enough. Therefore, from time to time there was a desire to find a part-time job. It was easier for young men: loaders and laborers were constantly needed. Such work was well paid, about 10 rubles a day, and the wagons had to be unloaded at night. But the girls had to rack their brains to find additional income.

The easiest option is to get a job as a cleaner. There were always many such vacancies, they were easily taken on a part-time basis and it was possible to agree on working hours. That's just the money paid for it is very modest. The rate was only 70-80 rubles per month. Tutoring was another common part-time job. Usually schoolchildren were pulled up, they paid 3-5 rubles per lesson for this. But such work was not suitable for all students. Someone simply did not reach the knowledge for tutoring, and someone was simply embarrassed to take money.

Student brigades provided a good opportunity to earn money. The USSR had its own branched organization "All-Union Student Construction Teams", which operated under the Komsomol. Students were primarily sent to the construction of various facilities, but not only. There were detachments that were engaged in fishing, trade and even teaching children.

It was almost impossible to get rich in the student brigade, but you could get 400-600 rubles for the summer period. The work of a conductor was considered especially attractive financially. In addition to the actual salary, some still managed to hand over bottles for 5-10 rubles per shift.

The document is no longer valid

Document as of August 2014

Approved
By order of the Minister of Higher
and secondary special
formations of the USSR
dated October 1, 1963 N 301

Agreed
Secretary of the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions
V. PROKHOROV

Deputy Minister
Finance of the USSR
F. MANOYLO

1. In accordance with the decisions of the Council of Ministers of the USSR (Orders of the Minister of Higher Education of the USSR of August 14, 1956 N 648 and the Minister of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education of the USSR of July 26, 1963 N 245), state scholarships in the established amounts are awarded to students of higher educational institutions students who study off-the-job, taking into account their academic performance and financial support, and, first of all, students who received excellent and good grades in exams, and in some cases with satisfactory grades. Scholarships are awarded 2 times per academic year based on the results of examination sessions.

2. Scholarships for students (except for students specified in paragraph 7 of this Instruction) are assigned by the scholarship commissions of faculties, and in universities where there are no faculties - by the scholarship commission of the university.

In faculties with more than 500 students, course scholarship committees can be created to help faculty scholarship committees. Based on the materials of the course scholarship committees, the final decision is made by the scholarship committee of the faculty.

Scholarship commissions are created for a period of one year from representatives of public organizations of the university, faculty, course, chaired by the vice-rector, dean of the faculty, deputy dean of the faculty, respectively.

The composition of the scholarship commissions of the university and the faculty is approved by the rector of the university, and the composition of the course scholarship commissions is approved by the dean of the faculty, in agreement with public organizations of the university, faculty, course, respectively.

A representative of the accounting department of the university is included in the scholarship commissions.

3. Scholarship commissions, when considering issues related to the appointment of a state scholarship, are guided by this Instruction.

The lists of students who are awarded scholarships by the commission are approved by the order of the rector on the proposal of the deans of the faculties.

A student who does not agree with the decision of the commission to refuse him a scholarship can appeal this decision to the rector of the university, who, together with the trade union committee and the committee of the All-Union Leninist Young Communist League of the university, makes the final decision on this issue.

4. To receive a scholarship, students submit an application to the scholarship commission, which indicates the composition of the family and the income received by the student himself and each of the family members.

To confirm their financial situation, they must, within 15 days from the start of the first year classes, submit to the university the relevant documents on the composition of the family and the income received by the student himself and each of the family members. The incomes of family members - collective farmers are indicated in monetary terms, taking into account monetary and in-kind incomes. In subsequent semesters, such documents are submitted by students only in case of a change in their financial situation or at the request of the scholarship commission.

5. For first-year students of higher educational institutions, scholarships in the first semester are assigned taking into account the grades obtained in the entrance exams and financial situation in the usual amount without a 25% bonus for obtaining excellent grades in the entrance exams.

In the second and subsequent semesters, scholarships are awarded to students from the first day of the month following the examination session.

Students who receive unsatisfactory grades and retake exams in these disciplines after the examination session, as a rule, are not awarded scholarships, regardless of what grades they received.

The rector of the university is granted the right, at the request of the scholarship commission, as an exception, to assign a scholarship during the intersessional period to students in case of a change in their financial situation and taking into account the marks of the previous examination session, as well as to individual needy students who retake the exams in the prescribed manner.

Students who did not appear for exams during the examination session due to illness, certified by the relevant document of a medical institution that has the right to issue sheets of temporary disability, are not withdrawn from the scholarship until the results of the exams in the individual terms established by the dean of the faculty, after which they are assigned scholarships for general grounds.

Differentiated grades for credits, as well as grades for educational and industrial practice are taken into account on a par with grades obtained at the examination session.

Grades in optional disciplines are not taken into account when awarding scholarships.

6. Without taking into account the financial situation, if there are grades not lower than "satisfactory", the scholarship is awarded to the following students:

a) Heroes of the Soviet Union and Heroes of Socialist Labor;

b) the deaf-mute and the blind;

c) officers admitted to universities in 1960/61 and 1961/62 academic years from among those dismissed from the Armed Forces in accordance with the Law on a new significant reduction in the Armed Forces of the USSR, if they do not receive a pension;

d) officers and servicemen of long-term service of the Armed Forces of the USSR, troops and bodies of the State Security Committee under the Council of Ministers of the USSR, who are dismissed from military service, starting from January 1, 1963, for health reasons, age or downsizing, if they do not receive a pension;

e) sent to universities in accordance with Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR of September 18, 1959 N 1099 "On the participation of industrial enterprises, state farms and collective farms in the recruitment of universities and technical schools and in the training of specialists for their enterprises" and other decisions issued in addition to this Decree;

f) students studying at technical colleges;

g) those who are entitled to receive scholarships under certain government decisions (for example, Order of the Minister of Higher Education of the USSR dated February 11, 1958 N 139);

h) former pupils of orphanages and children's labor educational colonies and persons who were in patronage, as well as former pupils of boarding schools who do not have parents.

7. Students from among those sent to universities in accordance with Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR of September 18, 1959 N 1099 and other decisions issued in addition to this Decree, scholarships are assigned and paid monthly directly by enterprises, construction sites, state farms and collective farms that sent them for study, in the amount of 15% above the scholarship established for this course.

In necessary cases, scholarships to these students may be paid by enterprises, construction sites, state farms and collective farms through higher educational institutions in agreement with the heads of the relevant higher educational institutions by transferring the necessary amounts to them within the established time limits.

If a student receives unsatisfactory grades at the examination session, the dean of the faculty informs the head of the relevant organization in writing about the need to stop paying the scholarship to this student until they retake the exams.

Scholarships are paid to students of factories-technical colleges during off-duty training on a monthly basis directly by the enterprises in which technical colleges are organized, in the amount of 15% higher than the scholarship established for this course.

8. During the period of production practice at the workplace with the payment of wages, as well as during the period of production work (including the period of apprenticeship), the scholarship is not paid to students. The payment of scholarships during the period of practical training by higher educational institutions (or enterprises, construction sites, state farms and collective farms that sent working youth for training) is made upon presentation by students from enterprises, institutions, organizations where they are doing practical work, certificates stating that they do not receive wages. paid.

When alternating production work with training sessions (weekly or other periods), students are paid a scholarship on a general basis during their studies, and wages are paid for the time they work in production.

Enterprises, institutions and organizations pay 30 rubles a month for students of the first and second courses who combine education with socially useful work during the period of apprenticeship, but not more than for four months.

When alternating periods of apprenticeship and study with a break from production, students during periods of apprenticeship are paid a student wage rate at the rate of 30 rubles per month, and during periods of study - a scholarship on a general basis.

At the same time, the calendar period of apprenticeship is extended accordingly.

Persons sent to study in accordance with Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR of September 18, 1959 N 1099 and other decrees issued in addition to this Decree, as well as students of higher education factories during the period of apprenticeship receive 30 rubles (i.e. student rate wages without increasing this amount by 15%) from the enterprises where they are apprenticed, with the subsequent reimbursement of these amounts by enterprises that sent students to study.

9. For students (with the exception of students receiving nominal scholarships and specified in subparagraphs "a" and "b" of clause 6 of these Instructions), who are eligible for scholarships and who received only excellent marks at the examination session, the amount of the scholarship is increased by 25% from the first day of the month following the examination session.

For excellent students from among students of higher educational establishments and persons sent to study in accordance with Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR of September 18, 1959 N 1099 and other decrees issued in addition to this Decree, scholarships are paid in the prescribed manner 15% higher scholarships for excellent students of the corresponding course.

10. Nominal scholarships are appointed regardless of the financial situation, but in compliance with the procedure established by the current Regulations on nominal scholarships. Personal scholarships awarded to students sent to study in accordance with Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR of September 18, 1959 N 1099 and other decrees issued in addition to this Decree, as well as students of higher education factories, are paid at the expense of the educational institution.

11. An increase in the size of the scholarship in connection with the transition to a senior course is made from the beginning of classes in this course.

Students who have lost the right to receive a scholarship as a result of the examination session do not receive a scholarship starting from the first day of the month following the end of the examination session.

12. Students of higher educational institutions who received scholarships in the 1962/63 academic year in amounts higher than those established by Order of the Minister of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education of the USSR of July 26, 1963 N 245, remain until the end of the educational institution the amount of scholarships they receive, without increasing them when transferring to subsequent courses of study, if in these courses the new scholarships are lower than the scholarships they receive.

In all other cases, the scholarship is paid in the prescribed manner in the amount provided for by Order of the Minister of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education of the USSR of July 26, 1963 N 245. If individual students did not receive a scholarship in the 1962/63 academic year, and in subsequent years they received the right to scholarship, transferred from one higher educational institution to another or from evening and correspondence studies to full-time, then the scholarship is paid to them in the same manner and amount.

13. Students transferred in accordance with the order of the relevant ministry (department) from one university to another or from one specialty to another in the same educational institution, scholarships are awarded until the next examination session based on the results of exams passed at the former place of study, regardless of the availability academic debt resulting from the difference in curricula.

For students transferred at their personal request from one university or faculty to another university or faculty, as well as from the senior year of evening and correspondence universities (faculties, departments) to the junior year of the full-time department of the university, scholarships are awarded after paying off the debt on the curriculum.

14. Students of daytime universities who are left for a second year of study due to poor progress, scholarships are not paid during the entire second year of study.

Scholarship students left in the same course for the second year due to illness or in connection with a vacation related to illness or other good reason, timely issued by order of the rector of a higher educational institution on the basis of the relevant documents of a medical institution that has the right to issue certificates of temporary disability, the payment of the scholarship is resumed from the moment the classes begin in the second academic year until the results of the first examination session, after which the scholarship is awarded on a general basis.

For students who did not receive a scholarship, left for the second year due to illness, a scholarship in the second year of study can be assigned before the results of the next examination session, taking into account material support.

15. While a student is on leave due to illness or other valid reason, the scholarship is not paid to him.

After the return of the student-stipendiary from leave granted to him due to illness or other good reason, the payment of the scholarship to him is resumed until the results of the first examination session, after which the scholarship is awarded on a general basis.

16. Student-stipendiaries in case of temporary disability, confirmed by a medical institution that has the right to issue sick leave certificates, receive a scholarship in full until the restoration of working capacity or until the establishment of disability by the Medical Labor Expert Commission (VTEK); for maternity leave, the stipend is issued in full during the terms of this leave established by the current legislation for women workers and employees.

For students whose production work alternates with study, including students of technical colleges, state social insurance benefits are issued only for periods of temporary disability, maternity leave, falling on the time of production work, excluding the period of apprenticeship.

For off-duty days of study, missed due to temporary disability, maternity leave, these scholarship students are paid a scholarship in the manner specified in the first paragraph of this paragraph.

In case of temporary disability during the period of apprenticeship, all students who have certificates of temporary disability for days of illness are paid at the rate of the student rate established by paragraph 8 of Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR of August 4, 1959 N 907 in the amount of 30 rubles per month.

17. Students of evening and correspondence universities (faculties and departments), as well as students studying off-duty during their correspondence or evening studies, for the duration of a month's additional leave provided without pay at the place of work for familiarization directly at the workplace with work in the chosen specialty and preparation of relevant materials for the graduation project, a scholarship is paid on a general basis in the amount established for students of the last year of study.

For the period of annual additional leave of 6-12 working days provided in accordance with paragraph 12 "b" of Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR of December 30, 1959 N 1425 without pay, students of factories-technical colleges are paid a scholarship in the prescribed manner.

18. For students of higher educational institutions reinstated in an educational institution within three years after their dismissal from the ranks of the Soviet Army to the reserve, a scholarship is awarded from the day of restoration until the results of the next examination session in the manner specified in paragraphs 2 and 3 of clause 14 of this Instruction.

19. Students of higher educational institutions receiving a survivor's pension are assigned to a scholarship on a general basis, i.e. taking into account academic performance and financial support, and are entitled to the simultaneous receipt of scholarships and pensions.

20. Rectors of higher educational institutions are granted the right to temporarily withdraw from scholarships students who violate discipline, on the proposal of the deans of the faculties, agreed with the public organizations of the faculties. In case of violation of discipline by students sent to the university to study in accordance with Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR of September 18, 1959 N 1099 and other decrees issued in addition to this Decree, the rector of the university informs in writing the management of the enterprises, organizations and institutions to terminate their scholarships.

21. Rectors of higher educational institutions are allowed, in agreement with the trade union committee, to pay students, in case of urgent need, a one-time allowance in amounts not exceeding the monthly stipend of the corresponding course. The lump-sum allowance is paid within the limits of 0.2% of the scholarship fund of the given educational institution.

22. Appointment to students (except for the students specified in clause 7 of this Instruction) scholarships and lump-sum allowances are made within the scholarship fund provided for by the estimate of the higher educational institution for the corresponding year.

23. This Instruction does not apply to foreign students. Scholarships for foreign students are provided in a special manner, as reported by the USSR Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education.